LAFARGE HOLCIM, NSIA PARTNER OGUN ON LAND RESTORATION

The Ogun State Government has partnered Lafarge HOLCIM and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority on a land degradation neutrality transformative project tagged “Ile Dotun”.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye, during a technical planning workshop for the project in Abeokuta, said it was aimed at restoring degraded land for agricultural activities just as the pilot scheme would be executed in Imeko and Awowo Forests and Games Reserve.

Oyeleye added that the project was equally designed to address issues of global warming, climate change and watershed management, saying that government would allocate land to farmers under those forest reserves.

He said ” Ile Dotun” would be replicated in other areas across the State in the coming years after successful execution of the pilot phase, thereby increasing its present projected coverage from 10 per cent to 80 per cent of the State’s forest reserves.

“This project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and by extension in Africa. It’s more like a pilot scheme. The United Nations is working closely with us on this to make sure that it is a success and will be replicated in other areas. It will improve agricultural and economic activities, as well as conservation of water resources in those reserves”, he said.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, represented by the Director, Livestock Services, Mr. Tunbosun Mosuro, said the project was aimed at reviving degraded land for optimal use of farmers in the state, adding that this would eventually enhance food security.

He added that, besides land restoration, ” Ile Dotun” would also help the State to achieve its goal of ensuring a sustainable ecosystem.